Life belt



R. A. NOLAN Oct. 22, 1935.

LIFE BELT Filed April 20, 1934 FIG. 2

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INVENTOR ROGER A NOLAN. BY

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention relates to a life belt, and has for an object to provide an improved life belt capable of supporting the human figure in the water with the body in a forwardly inclining position but with the nose kept safely out of water so that the wearer will not be in danger of drowning (even though he become unconscious) yet will be capable of propelling himself through the water without undue exertion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a life belt made in the form of an elongated rectangular buoyant strap that may be connected and easily adjusted on the body of the wearer without assistance. 7

A further object of this invention is to provide a long rectangular life belt and an improved method of placing the belt on the human figure so that it will at all times support the body in a position for easy breathing and easy swimming.

A still further object is to provide a long rectangular life belt having means for adjusting its length so that it may fit human figures of different sizes.

Another object is to provide a life belt which,

when not in use, may be connected to similar life belts and stored in a roll available for quick separation and distribution when needed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front plan view of a human figure wearing this improved life belt;

Fig. 2 is a rear View of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the front of one end of the life belt;

Fig. 4 is a similar View of the other end of the life belt;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is'a rear view of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a top edge view of Fig. 5.

The belt shown at H] is rectangular in outline and consists of a plurality of panels II separated by stitching I2, each panel being stufied with a suitable flotation material such as kapok. One end panel I3 is left unfilled so as to provide means for adjusting the length of the belt. Fastening means such as strap ends l5 are secured to end panel 13 and similar strap means iii are secured to the adjoining kapok-filled panel. The opposite end panel I I of the belt is provided with a cooperating buckle means I 1 adapted to receive eitherthe strap ends l5 or 16. When used by a large wearer the strap ends I5 will cooperate with buckles I! but when used by a wearer of smaller proportions the end panel I3 is folded over the adjoining panel H at the same time folding the strap ends I 5 therein, the panel I3 being held in folded-over position by snap Iasteners l8 suitably placed on the end of panel l3 and on the belt ID as at IS. The belt is approximately seven inches wide and six feet, ten inches in length, although of course these di- 5 mensions may be varied within suitable limits.

When not in use, the belt may be stored by securing it to a series of adjoining belts and forming them in a roll in the same manner that wrapping paper is formed in a roll. When neces- 10 sary to use the belts, they are disconnected one from the other and distributed. The wearer places the middle of the belt over the chin and neck, crosses it, brings it over the shoulders,

crosses it over the back and then under the arms 15 and fastens it across the chest, as shown in Figs.

1 and 2, using either the strap ends l5 or strap ends I6, depending on the size of the wearer. As will be observed, the belt is then approximately in the form of a figure eight, having the upper 20 smaller loop extending around. the neck and the lower larger loop extending around the chest. When worn in this manner the wearer has his arms free from restriction and capable of easy use either for swimming or for rowing a boat, 25 and when in the water, the portion of the belt over his chin holds the nose above water even though he may become unconscious.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of 30 the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. A substantially flattened rectangular life 35 belt, flotation material secured within said lii'e belt, said life belt being divided into a plurality of rectangular panels preventing the flotation material therein from being displaced, one end panel of said belt being free of flotation material, fastening means secured to said end panel free of flotation material, additional fastening means secured to the adjoining panel and cooperating fastening means secured to the other end of said belt and adapted to cooperate with either 45 fastening means, said belt being of suflicient length to form a figure eight about the wearer, the smaller upper loop encircling the throat and the larger lower loop encircling the body, said" panels being sufliciently wide and flat so that the 50 throat encircling loop may extend from the chest to over the mouth to protect the mouth against spray.

2. A substantially flattened rectangular life belt, flotation material secured within said life 55 belt, said life belt being divided into a plurality of rectangular panels preventing the flotation material therein from being displaced, one end panel of said belt being free 01' flotation material, fastening means secured to said end panel free of flotation material, additional fastening means secured to the adjoining panel and cooperating fastening means secured to the other end of said belt and adapted to cooperate with either fastening means, said belt being of suflicient length to form a'flgure eight about the wearer, the smaller upper loop encircling the throat and the larger lower loop encircling the body, and cooperating fastening means on said end panel free of flotation material and on said belt for holding said end panel in folded position with the fastening means on said adjoining panel available for use.

ROGER A. NOLAN. 

